THIS is the moment a minister told Kate Garraway “let me finish or it’s pointless!” after she repeatedly interrupted him.
Migration and Citizenship minister Mike Tapp was speaking to Kate on Good Morning Britain when the awkward moment occurred on live television.
The pair discussed current issues such as the immigration crisis and Sir Keir Starmer’s handling of the Lord Peter Mandelson scandal on the ITV News programme.
The PM poured petrol on his leadership crisis earlier this week by trying to claim he was not aware the disgraced Labour peer was pals with the paedophile.
But as Garraway fired questions and demanded answers from Mr Tapp in quick succession, the Labour MP grew increasingly frustrated.
Footage showed him desperately trying to get a word in edge-ways with the animated GMB star.
Waiting for a moment of silence, Tapp then replied: “Please do let me finish because otherwise it’s almost pointless interviewing me.”
And despite his requests to speak without interruption, Garraway was still heard putting across her point of view as Tapp spoke.
The exasperated Labour MP then said: “I get what you’re saying, but if you let me finish.”
Kate replied “I will” before the conversation finally resumed in a more normal manner.
Tapp also claimed today that Starmer should continue as Prime Minister despite outrage over his handling of the Lord Mandelson case.
Starmer has been under pressure for several days after new details emerged from the Epstein files in the US about the closeness between Mandelson and the late child sex offender.
Sir Keir also tried to shift blame onto the security services for failing to properly uncover the “depth and darkness” of their friendship.
Earlier this week, a grovelling the PM apologised for having put Mandelson into such a high-profile and sensitive role.
The revelationsinclude documentssuggesting Epstein gave Mandelson $75,000 (£55,000) – which Mandelson has said he cannot remember – and that Mandelson shared sensitive inside information with Epstein when he was working at the heart of Gordon Brown’s government.
The Prime Minister has faced numerous calls to stand down from his leadership by other Labour MPs, including Harriet Harman, who has described Sir Keir as appearing “gullible and weak”.
And the PM’s apology to Epstein’s victims was“nowhere near enough”for Labour MP Brian Leishman, who says questions about Starmer’s future are developing “hour by hour”.
Even former Deputy PM Angela Rayner this week put pressure on the PM by calling for the government to allow the intelligence and security committee to decide which of the files should be released.
Hours later No10 approved a Commons motion for the files to be published.
The files will now be made public rather than be assessed by Sir Keir’s top civil servant, as he wished.
In a further blow, the release of other papers the PM did want public was blocked bypoliceover fears they would prejudice their misconduct in public officeinvestigation.
However, Tapp backed Starmer and told Sky News: “I believe if we stick with Keir Starmer, which we will, then that corner will turn faster and people will start to feel it.
“But I completely understand the anger and the distress at what’s happened with Peter Mandelson’s appointment.
“I completely agree with that, and that’s why I’m really pleased to see a genuine, genuine apology from Keir Starmer.”